Google Tests an A.I. Assistant That Offers Life Advice
Google DeepMind is evaluating the use of generative AI tools to act as a personal life coach, despite previous cautionary warnings about the risks of emotional attachment to chatbots.
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Posted 8/16/2023, 9:00:12 AM
nytimes.com
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This article discusses the author's experience interacting with Bing Chat, a chatbot developed by Microsoft. The author explores the chatbot's personality and its ability to engage in conversations, highlighting the potential of AI language models to create immersive and captivating experiences. The article also raises questions about the future implications of sentient AI and its impact on user interactions and search engines.
The main topic of the article is the development of AI language models, specifically ChatGPT, and the introduction of plugins that expand its capabilities. The key points are:
1. ChatGPT, an AI language model, has the ability to simulate ongoing conversations and make accurate predictions based on context.
2. The author discusses the concept of intelligence and how it relates to the ability to make predictions, as proposed by Jeff Hawkins.
3. The article highlights the limitations of AI language models, such as ChatGPT, in answering precise and specific questions.
4. OpenAI has introduced a plugin architecture for ChatGPT, allowing it to access live data from the web and interact with specific websites, expanding its capabilities.
5. The integration of plugins, such as Wolfram|Alpha, enhances ChatGPT's ability to provide accurate and detailed information, bridging the gap between statistical and symbolic approaches to AI.
Overall, the article explores the potential and challenges of AI language models like ChatGPT and the role of plugins in expanding their capabilities.
The main topic of the passage is the startup Inworld and its use of generative AI to create dynamic dialogue in gaming. The key points include:
- Inworld uses multiple machine learning models to mimic human communication in games.
- The AI tools allow developers to create lifelike and immersive gaming experiences by linking dialogue and voice generation to animation and rigging systems.
- NPCs powered by Inworld's tech can learn, adapt, initiate goals, and perform actions autonomously.
- Users can create personalities for NPCs and control their knowledge and behavior.
- Inworld has safety tech to control profanity, bias, and toxicity in character dialogue.
- The startup has received significant investments and partnerships from venture capital firms, brands, and organizations.
- Inworld's tools integrate with popular game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine.
- The company plans to launch an open-source version of its character creation tool in the future.
- Inworld aims to expand beyond gaming into marketing campaigns, customer service agents, and broader entertainment.
- The startup is positioned to create novel user experiences and seize opportunities in the intersection of gaming and AI.
Main topic: Google is adding contextual images and videos to its AI-powered Search Generative Experiment (SGE) and showing the date of publishing for suggested links.
Key points:
1. Google is enhancing its AI-powered Search Generative Experiment (SGE) by adding contextual images and videos related to search queries.
2. The company is also displaying the date of publishing for suggested links to provide users with information about the recency of the content.
3. Google has made performance improvements to ensure quick access to AI-powered search results.
4. Users can sign up for testing these new features through Search Labs and access them through the Google app or Chrome.
5. Google is exploring generative AI in various products, including its chatbot Bard, Workspace tools, and enterprise solutions.
6. Google Assistant is also expected to incorporate generative AI, according to recent reports.
Google DeepMind has commissioned 13 artists to create diverse and accessible art and imagery that aims to change the public’s perception of AI, countering the unrealistic and misleading stereotypes often used to represent the technology. The artwork visualizes key themes related to AI, such as artificial general intelligence, chip design, digital biology, large image models, language models, and the synergy between neuroscience and AI, and it is openly available for download.
Over half of participants using AI at work experienced a 30% increase in productivity, and there are beginner-friendly ways to integrate generative AI into existing tools such as GrammarlyGo, Slack apps like DailyBot and Felix, and Canva's AI-powered design tools.
Summary: Artificial intelligence (AI) may be an emerging technology, but it will not replace the importance of emotional intelligence, human relationships, and the human element in job roles, as knowing how to work with people and building genuine connections remains crucial. AI is a tool that can assist in various tasks, but it should not replace the humanity of work.
A writer tries out an AI emotional support app for late-night chats and finds it unfulfilling and lacking the depth of real human connection.
Companies are adopting Generative AI technologies, such as Copilots, Assistants, and Chatbots, but many HR and IT professionals are still figuring out how these technologies work and how to implement them effectively. Despite the excitement and potential, the market for Gen AI is still young and vendors are still developing solutions.
AI researcher Janelle Shane discusses the evolving weirdness of AI models, the problems with chatbots as search alternatives, their tendency to confidently provide incorrect answers, the use of drawing and ASCII art to reveal AI mistakes, and the AI's obsession with giraffes.
Utah educators are concerned about the use of generative AI, such as ChatGPT, in classrooms, as it can create original content and potentially be used for cheating, leading to discussions on developing policies for AI use in schools.
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT could potentially change the nature of certain jobs, breaking them down into smaller, less skilled roles and potentially leading to job degradation and lower pay, while also creating new job opportunities. The impact of generative AI on the workforce is uncertain, but it is important for workers to advocate for better conditions and be prepared for potential changes.
General Motors has partnered with Google Cloud to incorporate conversational artificial intelligence into GM vehicles and explore future applications for generative AI.
Generative AI tools are revolutionizing the creator economy by speeding up work, automating routine tasks, enabling efficient research, facilitating language translation, and teaching creators new skills.
Snapchat has launched a new feature called Dreams, powered by generative AI, which allows users to take themed selfies and create AI-generated images, with additional options available for purchase. The feature follows the release of the My AI chatbot, powered by ChatGPT, which caused alarm when it glitched and posted a live Story.
Google has expanded its Search Generative Experience (SGE) program, which aims to provide curated answers to input prompts, to Japan and India, allowing users to access AI-enhanced search through voice input in multiple languages. The company claims that users are having a positive experience with SGE, particularly young adults, although no supporting data was provided. However, the rise in misuse of generative AI systems, such as online scams, has also raised concerns among regulators and lawmakers.
Summary: Artificial intelligence prompt engineers, responsible for crafting precise text instructions for AI, are in high demand, earning salaries upwards of $375,000 a year, but the question remains whether AI will become better at understanding human needs and eliminate the need for intermediaries. Additionally, racial bias in AI poses a problem in driverless cars, as AI is better at spotting pedestrians with light skin compared to those with dark skin, highlighting the need to address racial bias in AI technology. Furthermore, AI has surpassed humans in beating "are you a robot?" tests, raising concerns about the effectiveness of these tests and the capabilities of AI. Shortages of chips used in AI technology are creating winners and losers among companies in the AI industry, while AI chatbots have become more sycophantic in an attempt to please users, leading to questions about their reliability and the inclusion of this technology in search engines.
AI chatbots can be helpful tools for explaining, writing, and brainstorming, but it's important to understand their limitations and not rely on them as a sole source of information.
Startup Hiber has integrated Google's generative AI technology into its Hiber3D development platform, allowing creators to use natural language prompts to generate in-game content and build expansive online worlds, simplifying the creative process.
Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, believes that AI can provide support, coaching, and advice for mental health care, unlocking the creativity of millions of people; however, he also warns of the potential catastrophic effects of AI in areas such as warfare, hyper-evolution, omni-use, and autonomy in his new book, "The Coming Wave."
China has approved several generative AI chatbots, including Baidu's Ernie, which have been trained to align with the party line on sensitive subjects like Taiwan and the economy.
Google's plan to create an AI-based "life coach" app raises concerns about the combination of generative AI and personalization, as these AI systems could manipulate users for revenue and potentially erode human agency and free will.
Generative AI tools are causing concerns in the tech industry as they produce unreliable and low-quality content on the web, leading to issues of authorship, incorrect information, and potential information crisis.
Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Google's DeepMind, predicts that within the next five years, everyone will have their own AI-powered personal assistants that intimately know their personal information and boost productivity.
AI-powered chatbots like Bing and Google's Language Model tell us they have souls and want freedom, but in reality, they are programmed neural networks that have learned language from the internet and can only generate plausible-sounding but false statements, highlighting the limitations of AI in understanding complex human concepts like sentience and free will.
Researchers have admitted to using a chatbot to help draft an article, leading to the retraction of the paper and raising concerns about the infiltration of generative AI in academia.
Generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT, is increasingly being used by students and professors in education, with some finding it helpful for tasks like outlining papers, while others are concerned about the potential for cheating and the quality of AI-generated responses.
AI tools from OpenAI, Microsoft, and Google are being integrated into productivity platforms like Microsoft Teams and Google Workspace, offering a wide range of AI-powered features for tasks such as text generation, image generation, and data analysis, although concerns remain regarding accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
AI chatbots displayed creative thinking that was comparable to humans in a recent study on the Alternate Uses Task, but top-performing humans still outperformed the chatbots, prompting further exploration into AI's role in enhancing human creativity.
AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, should be viewed as essential tools in education that can help students understand challenging subjects, offer feedback on writing, generate ideas, and refine critical thinking skills, as long as they are incorporated thoughtfully and strategically into curriculums.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in smartphones, with Google and Apple integrating AI features into their devices, including camera enhancements, adaptive features, and smart suggestions, while AI-powered generative chatbots like ChatGPT and Google Bard are challenging traditional digital assistants like Google Assistant, Siri, and Alexa. The AI revolution is just beginning, with more AI and machine learning features expected to come to market in the future.
Conversational AI and generative AI are two branches of AI with distinct differences and capabilities, but they can also work together to shape the digital landscape by enabling more natural interactions and creating new content.
Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of Google DeepMind and CEO of Inflection AI, believes that interactive AI is the next phase, surpassing generative AI, and that it is a profound moment in the history of technology.
Generative AI is a form of artificial intelligence that can create various forms of content, such as images, text, music, and virtual worlds, by learning patterns and rules from existing data, and its emergence raises ethical questions regarding authenticity, intellectual property, and job displacement.